A Rogue for All Seasons (Weston Family) Read Online Free PDF Page A

talked-about gentlemen, all of whom were currently making their way to the head of the room where their hosts waited.
    The Earl of Dunston was married to the Westons’ eldest daughter. He’d been all the rage since the gossip papers had reported about how he had secretly joined the navy and been wounded in battle. Rumor had it that Lord Nelson had personally commended Lord Dunston on his patriotism. His wife was one of those women who was so beautiful that Diana wanted to despise her but couldn’t, since Isabella had always been kind and friendly when she and Diana had chanced to meet. She was radiant tonight, standing between her handsome husband and her younger sister, Olivia.
    Olivia’s husband, the Marquess of Sheldon, was another of the evening’s honored men. As the widower had lived in near isolation until their marriage a year ago, the
ton
had been abuzz with the romantic tale. Watching Lord Sheldon smiling down at his petite wife, his arm around her shoulders, Diana knew without a doubt that they were very much in love.
    Near his sisters and parents was the third man of note. Of the three, he was the only one who remained single. He was also the only one who made Diana’s heart race like a filly in the final stretch of the Derby.
    Henry Weston.
    Tall, handsome, and heir to a viscountcy, he was the
ton
’s favorite rogue.
    Lord Weston held up a hand. A muted rumble moved through the sea of guests as everyone hushed each other. The viscount waited until the room was silent, or as quiet as a room packed with gossiping aristocrats was likely to get.
    “Dear friends, my wife and I would like to welcome you to our home and thank you for being with us on this happy occasion. The last time we hosted a ball here was for Isabella’s come-out. Tonight we present our daughter unto you again, along with her husband, the Earl of Dunston. They recently celebrated their second anniversary.”
    Cheers and good wishes rang out. Again, Lord Weston waited until the crowd quieted. “A year ago this month, in the beautiful chapel at Weston Manor, we welcomed another son-in-law into our family. The Marquess of Sheldon wisely captured the heart and the hand of our daughter, Olivia, before the scoundrels here in London had a chance.”
    A handful of boos burst forth, and the crowd laughed. “To add to our blessings,” the viscount continued, “we have rejoiced in the births of two beautiful, healthy granddaughters.” He raised his glass. “Now, please join me in a toast. To love, happiness, and family!”
    “To love, happiness, and family!” The refrain echoed loudly through the room as the guests lifted their glasses.
    The words stuck in Diana’s throat. In her experience, the three words did not go together. She raised her glass to her lips and let the chilled wine slide down her throat, noting that her mother hadn’t repeated the toast either.
    There was a great shuffling of bodies as the crowd redistributed to clear the center of the room. A number of the guests, with the ratio leaning heavily in favor of the men, cleared the room entirely, heading off to play cards or admire the rest of the house. Once everyone settled, Lord and Lady Weston took the floor, followed by their daughters and their husbands, and the musicians began to play. After the couples had progressed through a set of figures, others began to join in the dancing. In response, those left lining the walls of the room shifted their attention from those currently dancing to the task of locating a partner for the following dance.
    No one came looking for her, but that was hardly surprising as Diana considered herself something of an expert on the art of hiding. She hid her boredom at sitting with the doting mamas and dotty dowagers. She hid her pain and anger when she overheard the whispers about her parents. She hid her loneliness, schooling her face into a polite expression as the dazzling diamonds and dainty debutantes around her were asked to